Thanks to all of you who've replied to my recent threads with postings or private messages. I'm grateful for all the thoughtful advice and information you've provided.

Today it became clear to me that the right piano for me is the one that's now known as CD-888. I've talked with techs who've worked on it and others to find out what I can about its history . . .

It was built in 1993 and went to Manhattan to enter the retail sales inventory. In 1994 it was sold to Indiana University School of Music. I haven't yet learned what happened during the next 11 years, but I do know that in late 2005 it returned to Manhattan, entered the Concert and Artists program, and was sent to Detroit in early 2006. CD-888 has been doing classical and jazz concerts in Michigan since then. I'm told by a tech who knows it well that when it arrived in Detroit it was a bit green and the tone wasn't fully developed, but he feels it's developed nicely over the four years he's prepped it for concerts. CD-888 is often the concert D chosen for concertos because it can hold its own with a full orchestra.

Next week CD-888 is going to a concert at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where a tech who comes highly recommended will inspect it for me. Assuming the tech finds no deal breakers, CD-888 will then retire from the concert stage and resume its old identity as 528716. It will return to Detroit for a complete refinishing and should be ready for me to take delivery in about three months.

I had endless debates with myself about how I should shop for and choose this piano: Should I shop in Michigan or go to New York? Should I look for new or used? Is rebuilt better than a retired concert? Should I go back to my original plan to buy a B or or should I pursue a D? And on and on.

In the end, my decision was based on nothing more than this particular piano's tone and touch, and that's enough for me to know that it's the right instrument for me.

CD-888 has a lovely light touch and a clear, sweet, mellow tone. I'm astonished that whatever I play sounds beautiful. For example, I love recordings of Rachmaninov's Elegy, so I've been learning it, but I've been disappointed at my inability to come close to achieving musically what I hear in recordings. Today, playing CD-888, I actually began to hear what I was looking for. It's a pleasure to play very softly as well as to release CD-888's full power. I don't have to concentrate on achieving exactly the dynamic results I'm aiming for; the piano seems to read my mind. And CD-888 is so comfortable to play that it reminds me of wearing a favorite old pair of jeans.

So it became a choice of the heart, not the head. As so many of you said it should be!

Carol

Congratulations, Carol! Assuming the tech inspection turns out as expected, you have purchased a wonderful instrument. Finding a really "killer" D is much harder than finding a "killer" B. In fact, I have only ever played one D that I would take over the B I have. And it isn't for sale, fortunately.

May you have the joy of it.

The last D I saw was a sad case..."someone" had filed the hammers flat, installed the WNG action, drilled out the leads to make THAT work...and this a 3 year old...

I really can't say more, as I think charges may be pending...but, rest assured, she was in good hands and "coming back"!!

Oh wow! Congratulations!

I heard/ leaned on a D once, and that was convincing enough that it was one of the best pianos ever! Fantastic instrument!

How exciting Carol! A piano with history and a track record. I would have dark circles under my eyes my the time it arrived! It sounds like a perfect match.
Carl

Oh, and YOU MUST POST PICS!

+ 1

It's a great conclusion to your story. May your new piano bring you many years of loyal service.

Wow! you are going to have so many hours and years of wonderful music. How fun. Enjoy how wonderful to have a little piece of heaven here on earth.

Carol, I loved reading your story. Congratulations! The first time I played a D was at a recital, and I felt like a surgeon with a great scalpel. Nothing stood between the idea in my head and what came off the strings.

Before the recital I was intimidated by the piano. Then when I started playing, (I know this will sound strange) I felt like the piano wanted to help me, like we had some kind of mutual respect. A weird but wonderful experience.

I hope the next 3 months pass quickly for you.

Congrats,

I do find myself confused now. I have been told many times a Steinway "D" should be retired after 10 years of concert use. Something about the soundboards loosing full power after 10 years. I always thought that was a load of garb since most of the "D"s I work on are well over 10 years old and my clients decide to repair them instead of replace them.

I am please to read it was used for 10 years before it became a C&A instrument and then found fit to still "tour"

Fantastic!!!!

hzppy for you - and can't wait to hear about delivery - do share!

Sounds awesome. And though you mention you picked with your heart, it also sounds good from the head. You clearly did your homework and had everything thoroughly investigated.

I'm sure Rach's Elegy would sound spectacular on it.

Congrats. I'm always happy to hear when a fellow PW poster lands a high-end piano. (Well, any piano, but particularly a high end one.)

Congratulations!! A great NY D is a dream piano -- I'm so happy for you! please keep us posted on it.

Sophia

Says he who still owes us pictures from his practice space.... Give me your address and I'll send you some fresh batteries.

.

I don't owe anyone anything, mate.

School is nuts these days, so between actually practicing (!) and schoolwork, any extracurriculars are a crapshoot. I'll try to git r done after finals.

In a way, I know what you're saying...but, in another way...how sad...

What I meant was the former. I don't owe people on the interwebz pictures of my house; I will post them because I really would like to share pics of my practice space as per the Pianist Corner thread, not because someone tells me I have to. But time is at a premium for me these days, so it will have to wait.

That said, I'm signing off to do other things soon.

Judging by the amount of posts you have accumlated in the last 2 years you have plenty of time ;-)

Congratulations, Carol, on your new Steinway! (I'm optimistic the tech inspection will work out.)

Are you going to keep your current pianos?

Thanks everyone for the kind words.

Yes, we're keeping the other, uh, three pianos ... I feel sheepish trying to explain why we need so many, but I guess if there were ever an understanding audience, it would be this group!

Actually, it's because we're finishing our lower level. And since we're expecting that we'll be spending much of our leisure time down there, of course we'll need a piano ...

And it's turned out to be quite a large space that we're finishing, so getting a large piano reduces the amount of furniture we'll need to buy.

Perfectly logical, right?

Carol

Good luck Carol. btw, I have heard that your tech is very good

Carol,

I am quite excited for you, have made your choice and anticipated your new D.

In my last few years of piano adventures I will admit not having played more than one Steinway D.

It was a Hamburg and had a beautiful tone.

I wish you the best with your new find and hope you keep in touch with this new adventure.

.

Is that supposed to be funny?

Anyway, enough of hijacking Carol's topic.

I apologize for being too intrusive. My comment was only meant in a good way. Naturally, you don't owe anyone anything.

PM sent.

If your playing is as elegant as your writing you must be a spectacular pianist, and obviously very deserving of as special piano as the Steinway D you have described.

There is no reason to NOT have more than one piano!

Each piano is different and speaks in a different way. Some people want a strictly mellow european piano, but also want a honky tonk ragtime piano!

I mean I have a few pianos. Ive got a Bose Imperial 97 key, a Fazioli 10', an 1845 erard, and a Steinway D.... I need more!

Hehe just kidding of course! If I had those pianos.... man oh man that would be incredible! I think I would sell the D, and buy a nice digital pipe organ.